New Shows Based On Marvel Characters Coming To Netflix

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You might remember that Disney made a deal with Netflix a while back, but something that they didn’t mention when they were unveiling the back catalog titles to be put on the on-demand streaming service is that they had other plans, plans that would be relevant to your interests. And today, they’ve announced what those plans are: a deal to make new original series involving four Marvel characters, leading to a “miniseries programming event.” Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage are coming in series of thirteen episodes each, leading into a The Defenders mini-series.

Let’s let them tell you all about it in their press release:

The Walt Disney Co. and Netflix Inc. today announced an unprecedented deal for Marvel TV to bring multiple original series of live-action adventures of four of Marvel’s most popular characters exclusively to the world’s leading Internet TV Network beginning in 2015. This pioneering agreement calls for Marvel to develop four serialized programs leading to a miniseries programming event.

Led by a series focused on Daredevil followed by Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage, the epic will unfold over multiple years of original programming, taking Netflix members deep into the gritty world of heroes and villains of Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Netflix has committed to a minimum of four, thirteen episodes series and a culminating Marvel’s The Defenders mini-series event that reimagines a dream team of self-sacrificing, heroic characters.

Produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Television Studios, this groundbreaking deal is Marvel’s most ambitious foray yet into live-action TV storytelling.

“This deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvel’s brand, content and characters across all platforms of storytelling. Netflix offers an incredible platform for the kind of rich storytelling that is Marvel’s specialty,” said Alan Fine, President of Marvel Entertainment. “This serialized epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in what’s sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure.”

“Marvel’s movies, such as Iron Man and Marvel’s The Avengers, are huge favorites on our service around the world. Like Disney, Marvel is a known and loved brand that travels,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. “With House of Cards and our other original series, we have pioneered new approaches to storytelling and to global distribution and we’re thrilled to be working with Disney and Marvel to take our brand of television to new levels with a creative project of this magnitude.”

This new original TV deal follows last year’s landmark movie distribution deal through which, beginning with 2016 theatrically released feature films, Netflix will be the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run, live-action and animated movies from the Walt Disney Studios, including titles from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Disneynature and Lucasfilm. Netflix members can currently enjoy a wide range of Disney, ABC TV and Disney Channel films and shows across the 41 countries where Netflix operates.

You might recall that there was a Jessica Jones pilot being developed for ABC but the network passed on it; not sure if this is the same project, but the players appear to be the same.

Okay, then, there it is. Excited? Gonna sign up for Netflix for this? (You have until 2015, although there’s plenty to watch on there until then.) Happy with the characters they’re choosing? Sound off in the comments…

Any word on whether this will be distinctly set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Because yes please. I’m a sucker for a good cross-platform multiverse. Looking forward to this! I don’t miss a Marvel thing!

Hell’s (kitchen) yes!! These characters are such no-brainers for excellent serialized shows, stuff you can do on a mediocre budget, it is a perfect plan. I love it! As a geek, I am waiting for the other shoe to drop with all this amazing work, but so far, I am supremely pleased.